FORWORD Conference call
July 20th 2008

Asha UFlorida: Ajoy Saha, Palani, Prasoon, Sharan
Teacher: Franklin
3 Scholarship Students, Facilitator—Periyanayagam, Shaimalababy, Accountant.
Minutes taken by—Palani, Sharan, Prasoon.

Shiamalaby—We have strengthened the action plan - month by month activities. Need to concentrate more on scholarship program. Scholarship program very successful (Sheeba, Vincent etc have successfully finished the courses). This year we have motivated students in politically empowering kids. Identify local issues - RTI. Except one student failed, all the kids have passed to next grades. Other villages are also requesting to open centers.. Local school teachers and parents are very happy about what is happening.

Palani--how successful? 
Shiamalababy--They have successfully completed their study and also got job and helping out their family. Spreading to help out in the community.

Prasoon: Some Centers have taken up by the local community

Shiamalababy-- Madambakkam - the local community help in running the school. Kuthanoor and Irumabaliyor are looking for ways to support the Asha programs. FORWORD supports only the scholarship program in these centres. 

Shiamalababy- Other than Franklin, all teachers are educated upto 12th grade. 

Current scholarship students-Total 26 scholarships. 20 for school going students. Rest 6 for higher studies which include Pharmacy, Engineering, Hardware and networking education.

Prasoon-- Sheeba, Vincent (higher education scholarship recepients) do they visit program?
Shiamalababy—Not Asha schools but attend feedback program...planning to help out in future-- participating in 16th aug program where they will help in organizining competitions for children.

Shiamalaby—We are planning to have audit diff media how they pollute minds of children.

Palani’s comments on Franklin who runs one of the centres-- runs centre at his place, works in lab in engineering college, very organized..

Franklin - how do you think the project 
Fully satisfied - all kids are satisfied. but we arranging in open structure... if building can come up might be good...

Palani/ Prasoon-- do u keep statistics of how many kids dropped out from forword or general school—
Franklyn-- for my centre, I maintain records... 4 kids dropped out... those kids went to local tutors so left asha school....

Ajoy -- Any vocational training for kids ( in center where frnklyn works)
Franklyn -- in my center we teach mat making

Ajoy-- how they accepted in society n job being from dalit community—
Franklyn-- Only one  kid from his center reached 11th and he not coming asha school anymore.. Others have to still to apply for jobs or college.

Scholarship student-- M Raju, mechanical engg, tsg polytechnic
How long have you been getting scholarship? 
One year -- able to concn more-- support in form of books
Joined Polytechnic after 10th class-- first year self supported, second year been supported from asha.
What plans of future-- want to study engg... he has 70% in exams

Yamuna -- passed 10th and in 11th now
Did you go to Asha school?
Yamuna-- yes from 8th class

What you want to do after 12th? commerce / computer-- bsc or bcom

What kind of help you get in Asha school? school stuff—school fee

Sharan-- How is prog, anything else need to add? 
Yamuna-- It will be great if they can have comp at their centre. Currently we have to go to main office.

v meenakshi, 10th -- she has been going to asha school since 8th-- helps her compete with other students

Facilitator- Periyanayagam>
MA social work. 1 year with Asha. 

13 schools - 315 students. periodically - Asha monitoring. 
Every Saturday - syllabus - teachers meeting. How to teach, leadership program, requirement to teach to children
2nd week - nature and human. Awareness on plastic, using organic things
3rd week - Social justice, 
4th week, Sports, drawing competition, 
5th week - Parents associations. 

Interior places. Cover dalit and deprived schools. Going to govt schools. Not enough knowledge by teachers. By Asha school. we provide subject knowledge and general knowledge.

Palani—Is there a framework to back the children’s progress or where they are now? Is FORWORD maintaining any such works?
Facilitator: there is no such system as of now

Palani--- How often do you visit the schools and what do you do?
Facilitator: Each school is visited every week. Observe the kids, teachers, check attendance, ask about what is taught that day, question kids teach kids some moral lessons, give riddles/puzzles and teach them ways of solving.

Palani—What kind of book-keeping activities is the education facilitator doing?
Facilitator—Check schools and kids progress report, teacher’s diaries. Note points and convey them to Shiamalababy. Weekly report is given to Shiamalababy.

Sharan—Can you send us a copy of the notes you have in a week or so?
Facilitator—Yes

About Facilitator—He is from a poor background. He had a difficult time getting his education he has got. He had BSc in Mathematics and MA in social work from Loyla college, Chennai. He understands how difficult it is to get a good education and that motivates him to work for Asha quality education Program.

Prasoon/Palani—Any questions from us?
Facilitator—Support more students, but quality is preferred over quantity.

Ajoy—Is the education helping the kids to get to mainstream? How good is he education?
Facilitator—yes. The program is helping the kids to prepare for particular entrance exams. 3 students attempted to take entrance exams but have not been successful. They have taken exam after 12th class.

Palani—We want community to take up the Asha proram. What are the possibilities?
Facilitator—School children are motivated to approach the panchaya and ask for their rights and they will be motivated to go to panchayats to take up these centres in future.

Palani to FORWORD accountant—How long you have been with FORWORD and what do you do?
Accountant—One and half years. Account managing and office assistant for entire FORWORD

Prasoon—Can you send us the audited report
Accountant—Yes

Prasoon— We will review the FORWORD budget in next meeting and release funds very soon.

Palani—We would like to communicate with panchayat directly. Told shiamalaji that we would like to have statistics of the program. Understand how the program is helping the kids. We want to know if the program is really helping the kids to enter the mainstream.

Prasoon—What are shiamalaji’s oppinion about it?
Shiamalababy—Within next couple of months we will try to have the statistics ready of all the students by tracing back the history of students and where they are now.

Palani—What are FORWORD plans of self sustaining? We want community to take up the partly/ whole of he education part of FORWORD. What have been your efforts?
Shiamalababy—Out of 13 centres, we will take up 2-3 centres and discuss about sustaining them through women’s efforts. These are schools which are partially supported. We will make efforts to make these self sustaining.

Palani—We want FORWORD to show community support in the next year’s budget. Empower people through education. We realize 100% sustainability is not possible but we want to see some community involvement (microfinance/micro credit)
Shiamalababy—There are around 400 women who are working in finance program. Microcredit program is in place. A savings account is open. People invest in this account and the take loan as needed. There is also a revolving funds program. Revolving funds program is going on for 3 years. Other 2 programs are going on for a while. This has helped women to be not afraid of money lenders. The problem of money lender’s approaching them and harassing them has been solved. The program is not sufficient to run the household but it goes a long way to support the family.

Palani—Is FORWORD getting any help from NABARD?
Shiamalababy—No 

Ajoy—We can introduce Shiamalababy to other groups, projects and they can lean from each other. Talked about projects which can work with FORWORD. Ajoy to send information about groups to Shiamalji and others.